Ayubu 29
1 Ayubu akaendelea na kusema,
Job resumed speaking and said,
2 Ee, ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa miezi iliyopita wakati Mungu aliponiagalia,
“Oh, that I were as I was in the past months when God cared for me,
3 taa yake ilipowaka kichwani pangu, na pale nilipotembea gizani kwa nuru yake.
when his lamp shined on my head, and when I walked through darkness by his light.
4 Ee, kwamba ningekuwa kama nilivyokuwa katika siku za ujana wangu uhusiano wangu na Mungu ulivyokuwa mzuri,
Oh, that I were as I was in the ripeness of my days when the friendship of God was on my tent,
5 wakati Mwenyezi alipokuwa pamoja nami, na wanangu walipokuwa karibu nami,
when the Almighty was yet with me, and my children were around me,
6 wakati maisha yangu yalipokuwa yamejawa na utele, na mwamba uliponichuruzishia chemichemi za mafuta.
when my way was covered with cream, and the rock poured out for me streams of oil!
7 Nilipokwenda langoni mwa mji, nilipokaa katika eneo la mji,
When I went out to the city gate, when I sat in my place in the city square,
8 vijana waliniona na walikaa mbali kwa kuniheshimu, na wazee waliinuka na kusimama kwa ajili yangu.
the young men saw me and kept their distance from me in respect, and the aged people rose and stood for me.
9 Wana wa mfalme waliacha kuongea nilipofika; wangeweka mkono wao katika vinywa vyao.
The princes used to refrain from talking when I came; they would lay their hand on their mouths.
10 Sauti za waheshimiwa zililazimishwa, na ndimi zao hazikuweza kuongea vinywani mwao.
The voices of the noblemen were hushed, and their tongue clung to the roof of their mouths.
11 Kwani baada ya kunisikia, wangenibariki; waliponiona, wangeniona na kuniheshimu
For after their ears heard me, they would then bless me; after their eyes saw me, they would then give witness to me and approve of me
12 kwa maana nilikuwa nikiwasaidia masikini waliokuwa wakiteseka, na yatima, asiye na msaada.
because I rescued the one who was poor when he cried out, and the one who had no father when he had no one to help him.
13 Baraka zao waliokuwa karibu kuangamia zilinipata; niliufanya moyo wa mjane kuimba kwa furaha.
The blessing of him who was about to perish came on me; I caused the widow's heart to sing for joy.
14 Nilijivika utakatifu, nao ulinifunika; haki yangu ilikuwa kama kanzu na kilemba.
I put on righteousness, and it clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban.
15 Niliwasaidia vipofu; niliwasaidia walemavu.
I was eyes to blind people; I was feet to lame people.
16 Niliwasaidia wahitaji; niliwasaidia hata wasionijua.
I was a father to needy people; I would examine the case even of one whom I did not know.
17 Nilimnyamazisha mwovu; nilimpokonya manusura kutoka katika meno yake.
I broke the jaws of the unrighteous man; I plucked the victim out from between his teeth.
18 Kisha nilisema nitakufa mahali salama; nitazizidisha siku zangu kama mchanga.
Then I said, 'I will die in my nest; I will multiply my days like the grains of sand.
19 Mizizi yangu imeenea majini, na umande kukaa usiku wote katika matawi yangu.
My roots are spread out to the waters, and dew lies all night on my branches.
20 Heshima yangu ni mpya daima, na nguvu za upinde wangu zipo katika mkono wangu kila wakati.
The honor in me is always fresh, and the bow of my strength is always new in my hand.'
21 Watu walinisikiliza; walinisubiri; walisikiliza ushauri wangu.
To me men listened; they waited for me; they stayed silent to hear my advice.
22 Nilipo maliza kuongea hawakunena tena, maneno yangu yaliwatia nguvu kama mvua.
After my words were done, they did not speak again; my speech dropped like water on them.
23 Waliningoja kama kungoja mvua; waliyathamini maneno yangu, kama walivyotamani mvua iliyokawia.
They always waited for me as they waited for rain; they opened their mouth wide to drink in my words, as they would do for the latter rain.
24 Niliwafurahia bila wao kutarajia; hawakukataa uzuri wa uso wangu.
I smiled on them when they did not expect it; they did not reject the light of my face.
25 Nilikuwa kama mfalme wao na kuwachagulia cha kufanya; nilikuwa kama mfalme katika jeshi lake, kama awafarijiye waombolezaji mazishini.
I selected their way and sat as their chief; I lived like a king in his army, like one who comforts mourners.
